Bangor

Glass artwork

Glass artist Audrey Sparkes will have some of her smaller works on display through VSA Arts of Maine during the WCSH6 Sidewalk Art Festival on Saturday, Aug. 27, in Portland.

Sparkes uses media such as dichroic glass, developed by NASA for optical experiments in space, for various pieces. She has several works on display in the conference room at Alpha One on Union Street, and smaller items at Evad Images in Lincoln.

Sparkes, who has myalgic encephalomyelitis, a central nervous system disorder which limits physical and mental functioning, said her glass artwork was an important outlet for her creatively and spiritually.

Art at the library

Amicus artists Sabra Lynn Ravenscraft and Jill Marie Raczek are showing their work this month in the Lecture Hall at Bangor Public Library. In a return visit to the library, Ravenscraft is exhibiting oils, and Raczek is showing a monoprint series, screenprints and photographs.

Bangor photographer Page Eastman specializes in nature and still-life photography. Her work has been displayed at the Fields Pond Audubon Center and area bistros, and her photographs are available commercially on note cards and as prints. Eastman’s work is being shown in the Stairwell Gallery and extension.

A special Meet the Artists event is planned for 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at the library. For information, call 947-8336, ext. 139.

City Council proclamations

The City Council Monday issued three proclamations:

. Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, acknowledging “the courage and sacrifice of our World War II veterans, and the programs and ceremonies sponsored by Galen Cole and the Cole Land Transportation Museum in their honor.” The council urges area churches to ring their bells 1-2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, during the downtown Bangor World War II Veterans’ Parade “in recognition of our World War II veterans and the freedom and liberty they brought to so many.”

. Recognizing Aug. 6-14 as International Knights of Columbus Family Week in acknowledgment of the Knights’ “significant public service” and efforts to build and strengthen families throughout the year in the Greater Bangor community.

New board member

The Home for Little Wanderers has elected Bangor native Deborah England Gray, senior legal executive at Charles River Laboratories International Inc., to its board of directors.

Gray’s corporate legal practice is concentrated on SEC and NYSE compliance, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions. During her nearly 20 years of practice, she has advised many public and private companies on legal and corporate matters.

Her experience includes five years as vice president and general counsel of Sapient Corp., a business and technology consulting company in Cambridge, Mass. She also was a senior lawyer with Harcourt General Inc. in Chestnut Hill, Mass., and a junior partner in the corporate department of Hale and Dorr in Boston.

Gray, a resident of Andover, Mass., received a bachelor’s degree and honorary master’s degree from Colby College, and a law degree from Boston College Law School. She recently finished a 12-year term as a trustee of Colby College and is a prior overseer of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She is affiliated with the American Corporate Counsel Association Northeast Chapter and the American Bar Association.

To learn more about The Home for Little Wanderers, visit www.thehome.org.

New staff at PICA

After a careful search and a lively participatory process, the hiring committee has announced that two new staff members will join Peace through Interamerican Community Action in September. Sean Donahue will be the new director, and Jon Falk will be the new organizer.

Falk has been a PICA activist for many years and is serving as part-time interim director this summer. His new focus will be on membership and financial development, program support and organizing.

Donahue comes from North Andover, Mass., with a strong background in organizing as well as eloquent writing and speaking skills. He brings a deep commitment to economic justice and fair trade honed by his experiences in Bolivia, Colombia, and Nicaragua; learning about the economic struggles of the people of Latin America; and their inspiring social movements.

As director, Donahue will focus on organizing the Clean Clothes Campaign and the community-based Fair Trade campaign, as well as strengthening organizational capacity.

Kirsten Reberg-Horton, Matt Tilley, Margaret Baillie and Katherine Kates served as the hiring committee.

Toastmasters International

The Bangor Chapter of Toastmasters International will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, at Beal College.

The organization offers a “learn by doing” workshop for women and men to hone their leadership and public speaking skills in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. For information, call 990-1386 or 947-4591.

Pickering Square dance

One Five One will perform a mix of jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock and reggae 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, in Pickering Square. Vocalist Kenya Hall will be backed by sax, bass, guitar and drums and the music is suitable for listening or dancing.

The band will perform in the Pickering Square garage if the weather is rainy. The event is sponsored by the Bangor Center Corp.

Brewer

Kiwanis Club

At the last meeting of the Brewer Kiwanis Club, Lainie Beede-Harvey, master teacher and shamanic healer, spoke on Reiki healing therapy. Reiki is a hands-on healing experience used to relieve stress, muscle pain, headaches, back pain and depression, and to increase stamina and energy. Beede-Harvey gave a demonstration session with Debbie Roy, Carlton King and Kim Hopkins.

Kiwanis President Bill Newberry and past Lt. Governor Jane Newberry will be Brewer Kiwanis delegates attending the New England District of Kiwanis 87th Annual Convention Aug. 18-21 in Burlington, Vt.

The club voted to work with L&M Video Marketing as a fund-raiser, with Jim Pooler as chairman.

Club meetings are held 6-7 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Muddy Rudder. Those interested in joining may call 945-0746 or attend a meeting.

Bucksport

Haunted houses

Sky Taylor of I-95 FM radio is seeking people in the downtown area who may have unusual guests on the premises. Taylor produced a radio program last year that included local psychics who spent a night a For Knox searching for things that go bump in the night. Taylor said the group encountered some strange phenomena and a great deal of trouble using electronic film and recording data.

Taylor has spoken to a few Bucksport residents who have shared their suspicions that they may have unwanted guests living in their homes. She would like to interview those people and document any unusual occurrences.

Taylor and others who share an enthusiasm for Halloween-type activities are considering forming a working group called October Dreams Collaborative. Taylor said her interest came from the Friends of Fort Knox Fright Night.

Taylor would like to conduct ghost tours at identified homes and work with downtown homeowners who would like to decorate their homes and open them up as mini-haunted houses.

To learn more about the October Dreams Collaborative, call Taylor at 989-5631, or e-mail skytaylor@midmaine.com.

Castine

Racing yachts in town

On Monday afternoon, Aug. 15, 65 outstanding American racing yachts will arrive in Castine Harbor for a three-day visit. The yachts, plus 20 or more tenders, will be here for part of the 149th annual Cruise of the New York Yacht Club.

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, a public welcome for the visiting sailors will be held in Delano Auditorium at Maine Maritime Academy, sponsored by the Castine Historical Society, the Castine Yacht Club and MMA.

Castine town officials, MMA President Len Tyler and Commodore Tom Mason of the Castine Yacht Club will offer welcoming remarks.

A free slide lecture, “Castine and its Architecture” by Earle G. Shettleworth Jr., will be presented. Shettleworth, Maine State historian, executive director of the Maine State Historic Preservation Commission and author of many books and articles on architectural and historical matters, will talk about Federal-style homes and Victorian summer cottages in Castine.

Docents of the Castine Historical Society will lead short guided tours for New York Yacht Club members, concluding at the Abbott School on the town common, home of the society. There the visitors will see the historical society’s new permanent exhibit about the ill-fated 1779 Penobscot Expedition, as well as other seasonal displays.

Several of the annual cruise yachts will tie up at public, commercial and Maine Maritime Academy docks while in Castine and will be viewed by members of the community. Among them will be The Annual Cruise committee boat, a 72-foot catamaran.

For additional information, call Del Davis of the Castine Historical Society at 326-0828, or Jim Whittemore of the Castine Yacht Club at 326-0787.

Clifton

enefit dance

The Back Door Dance Studio and Parks Pond Campground invites the public to a 1950s dance 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at Parks Pond Campground, 827 Airline Road, Clifton. Admission is by donation. Proceeds will benefit the Comins Hall building fund. To obtain more information, call 843-7267.

Dedham

Gray Family Reunion

The Gray Family Reunion will be held Saturday, Aug. 20, at the home of Amos Orcutt on Bald Mountain Road, Dedham.

Lunch will be served at noon, with a family meeting afterward. Participants are asked to bring a hot or cold dish and their own chairs. For information, contact Michelle at 848-5210.

Etna

Spiritualist activities

The Etna Spiritual Association will hold Mediums Day on Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Etna Campground on Route 2 in Etna. Several mediums will be available, and a small fee will be charged for readings. Those planning to stay the day should bring a lunch.

An “Introduction to Spiritualism, Philosophy and Principles” will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, at the campground.

“The Spiritualist View of the Bible” will be offered at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Etna Town Hall on Route 2.

To register for one or both of these classes, call 269-2094.

Hermon

Demonstration forest

Walk a “Demonstration Forest in Progress” at Ecotat Gardens with Kirby Ellis. The event will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at the intersection of Annis Road and U.S. Route 2 in Hermon.

Participants are asked to park in the Annis Road parking lot.

For information, leave a message at 848-3700 or 848-5946.

Hudson

Grange open house

Hudson Grange 457 will sponsor an open house at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, at the Hudson Town Hall. Glenn Ross, Penobscot County sheriff, will speak on “Identity Theft.” The public is welcome.

Old Town

Zachary the Juggler

Zachary the Fabulous Juggler will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, at the Old Town Museum, 353 Main St.

Regular museum hours are 1-5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The facility is accessible to the handicapped, and admission is free. For information, call 827-7256.